Coco Grove: Siquijor's Gem Renelaine Bontol-Pfister

CEBU, Philippines - My husband Klaus and I are on vacation from the US, and my cousin said we had to see this special beach resort in Siquijor called Coco Grove.

It was my first time in Siquijor. It looked like a quiet town, with not a lot of vehicles around, areas of unpaved road and the occasional sari-sari store. We headed to the resort in San Juan in the southern part of Siquijor, just 15 minutes from the pier. But Coco Grove Beach Resort was a different world altogether.

We entered a high wooden gate and drove into a jungle; a jungle with a paved road. A wooden archway led to the reception area, where we were greeted with refreshing welcome drinks. The first thing that struck me was the level of customer service.

The staff called us by our first name. There were about 64 rooms/cottages, so it must be quite a task to remember all the guest's names, including which party everyone belonged to. Whose parents were these kids, whose spouse was whose, etc. They must memorize the list every night. But it was a nice practice. Their approach was not impersonal such as when saying "Sir" and "Ma'am." They greeted guests with a smile and a "Good morning" or "Good evening."

They were also closely attuned to the guests' needs. For example, one night Klaus and I said we would split the pumpkin soup. Our waiter brought it to us in two bowls, already split in two for our convenience. For dinner the next night, two of the wait staff moved our table so we could get closer to the beach. Extra spoons and drinks appeared without our asking for them. They always spent a few moments to ask how we were doing and if they could get us anything.

But aside from the excellent service, Coco Grove is a beautiful place. The rooms are wooden bungalows at the beach front, or tucked away in the "jungle" of plants and trees. The sound of birds filled the air every day, and it was no wonder because they had a bird sanctuary there. They even had a red parrot at the reception area called Macky, who occasionally lets out a piercing squawk. They have two restaurants that served a diverse menu: Filipino, Italian, Chinese, Thai, Greek, German, etc. A pair of male singers played string instruments and sang OPM classics for the diners. They had two pools, with one connected to a bar, where you can order a cocktail or a delicious fruit shake.

There was plenty to do at the resort. There was scuba diving, massage services, mani and pedi, a recreation room with a pool table and air hockey, books to borrow and board games. Kayaks were free to use for inhouse guests.  You could also take the family across the sea to Apo Island. Of course, you could also not do anything, which was a fine option when you're on vacation.

What's missing was the presence of more Filipino visitors. I wish more of us would go see this resort. There was mostly a European presence there: Swedish, Germans, French and British.

On our way to Siquijor, we took the plane from Cebu to Dumaguete, then the fast craft from Dumaguete to Siquijor. On our return trip to Cebu, we took fast crafts from Siquijor, via Dumaguete and Tagbilaran. This was a trying thing, because some of the ferries weren't exactly reliable. The schedules printed on the newspapers weren't current, and sometimes they did a special trip that they didn't announce.

But Coco Grove is worth the trip. Fine white sandy beach, pristine blue water, coconut trees, gazeebos at the beach...this could be Hawaii! And it's right here at home. (FREEMAN)